Show case



Nam 4, 1930. o. M. WOLFF 1,780,512

SHOW CASE Filed Dec. 12. 1927 2 sheets-sna 1 W I I? I /e 9&2,

x t 2 E 1 I 5 t I I Q 1 x INVENTOR.

Oscar fieyerjfi *BYI a d. AT VORNEYS.

NOV. 4, 1930. o WQLFF 1,780,512

snow CASE 7 Filed Dec. 12. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

Oscar hya- A TTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 4, 1930 'EES oscaa MEYER wonrr, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS SHOW CASE Application filed December 12, 1927. Serial No.' 239,570.

This invention relates to improvements in refrigerating show cases of that type which is provided with an upper compartment having glass walls to display the goods placed therein and a lower compartment formed by a counter part. The objects of the invention are to pro- 1 vide means for cooling the upper compartment and to provide a constant circulation of air therein and also to provide means for removing the moisture from the air so that it cannot condense on the lass walls of the display compartment to o scure the goods contained therein. The means employed for the purpose are described in detail hereinafter, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, in which similar refer- .ence characters designate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a show case embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view on the line 22 of Figure 3; Figure 3, is a plan view of the counter part of the case and at the refrigerating coil, several of the partition plates being removed to show the horizontal coil; and Figure 4 is a detail perspective view showing the refrigerating coil.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 5 designates the counter art and 6 the 'display part of the case, w ich is of the usual construction, the walls of the counter part being formed of wood or other suitable material and the wallsof the display part being formed of glass. The chambers of the display and counter parts are separated by a partition? formed of su1table heat- 1nsu lating material. Above the partition are the 4 metal plates 8 forming the counter top which is spaced above the partition 7 to form therebetween. an intermediate chamber 9 separating the counter and display compartments. These plates are enameled and are displaceably mounted at their ends on the frames 10 extending along the front and rear walls of the casing. The plates can be readily removed for cleaning purposes and to give access to the intermediate chamber. In the opposite ends of the plates are the openings 11 providing passages-between the display chamber 6 and the intermediate chamber 9'. Within the intermediate chamber 1s a drip-pan 12 seated on the partition 7 and leading from the same is the drainpipe 13 leading to a suitable receptacle (not shown). The drip-pan extends beneath the openings 11 of the displaceable plates to catch the drip therethrough.

In the display chamber 6 and the intermediate chamber 9 is mounted a heat exchange element comprising upper and lower coils 14 and 15, respectively, in series connection through the leads 16 with a source (not shown) of refrigerating fluid to circulate through the same, as is usual in such devices. The lower coil 15 is flat serpentine arrangement of piping and is horizontally disposed within the intermediate chamber 9. The upper coil 14 comprises a: straight pipe 17 connected at one end with the horizontal coil by the vertical lead 18 and at the other end with the spiral pipe '19 extending around the straight pipe toone of the vertical leads 16. The spiral pipe is wound around the straight pipe in a multiplicity of'convolutions and thereby pro 'vides an extensive heat exchange surface within small compass. The upper coil is supported by brackets 20 attached to a frame 80 of the case. The ;upper coil is positioned 1 in the display chamber adjacent to the top thereof. While the upper coil provides extensive heat exchange surface, yet it occupies but a small space within the compartment'so that a large part of the space can be utilized for the display of goods.

In the operation of the device, the refrigerating fluid passing through the coils tends to cool the display compartment 6 and the intermediate chamber 9. When moisture containing goods are placed in the display compartment on the plates 8, some of the moisture is given olf and tends to collecton the glass walls of the compartment, but the circulation of air in the compartment and the condensation of the moisture absorbed by the air prevents collection of moisture on the glass, Owing to the extensive contact area of the pp wil a r a j t me in the upper part of the compartment is chilled to .a greater extent than the air in the lower part of the compartment. Consequently, the chilled air adjacent to the upper coil flows downwardly, as indicated by the arrows a in Fig. 2, and is replaced by the warmer air flowing upwardly at the sides of the compartment, as indicated by the arrows b. The comparatively warm air flowing upwardly over the glass absorbs any moisture that may have settled thereon and becoming chilled by contact with the upper coil, the moisture is condensed to fall to the plates,8 and to escape through the openings 11 into the drip-pan 12 to be carried away by the drain-pipe 13. The lower coil 15 within the intermediate chamber 9 not only cools the plates 8 and the goods placed thereon, but also tends to chill the intermediate chamber so that the moisture remains condensed therein. A short time after moisture bearing goods are placed in the display compartment, they are chilled so that but little, if any, moisture is given off and that given off when the goods are first introduced is soon eliminated by condensation so that the compartment is freed from any moisture that might collect on the glass walls to obscure the goods. The interior of the dis- 7 play compartment, except for the upper coil,

is free from obstructions so that dead air pockets cannot prevail and, in consequence, the heated ai rising adjacent to the Walls is free to impinge directly upon the heat exchange surface provided by the upper coil.

The upper coil is so positioned as to be directly in the path of the heated outside air entering when the door of the compartment is opened. The spiral coil not only provides an effective heat exchange surface, but is of an ornamental character well adapted to the display compartment.

It is to be observed that the heat exchange surface of the upper coil, comprising the straight pipe 17 and the spiral pipe 19, is

considerably in excess of the heat exchange surface of the lower coil 15. Consequently, the upper part of the display compartment, adjacent to the upper coil, is maintained at a lower temperature than the lower part of the compartment. Furthermore, the metal plates 8 provide a screen for the lower coil that lessens the chilling effect of the latter on the lower part of the compartment. This arrangement assures a lower temperature for the upper part of the display compartment to effect the circulation of air therein.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a show case, the combination of a casing having an upper display compartment and a lower counter compartment, a horizontal partition separating the two compartments, displaceable plates forming a closed floor for the display compartment spaced above the horizontal partition to provide an intermediate chamber between the two compartments, said plates having openings through their opposite ends for the flow of condensate from the dis lay compartment to the intermediate cham er, and a heat exchange element comprising upper and lower coils in series connection mounted in the easing with the upper coil positioned in the display compartment adjacent to the top thereof and the lower coil ositioned in the intermediate chamber, said upper coil comprising a straight pipe and a spiral ipe coiled around the straight pipe to provi e an extensive heat exchange surface Within a small compass in the upper part of the displa chamber, said lowercoil being flat to fit within the intermediate chamber adjacent to the floor of the display chamber and having less heat exchange surface than the upper coil so' that the greater chilling effect of the latter tends to induce vertical circulation of air in the display chamber, said plates providing a screen for the lower coil to temper the chilling effect of the latter on the lower part of the display compartment to enhance the circulation of air in the display compartment.

2. In a show case, the combination with a casing including a display compartment provided with a floor, of a heat exchange element comprising upper and lower coils in series connection, the lower coil being a fiat serpentine arrangement of piping positioned beneath the floor of the display compartment in close parallel relation to said floor, the upper coil being positioned in the display compartment adjacent to the top thereof, there being an unobstructed space in the display compartment around the upper coil and between the latter and the floor of the display compartment, said upper coil comprising a straight pipe and a spiral pipe wound around the straight pipe to provide in the upper coil a heat exchange surface in excess of the similar surface of the lower coil to induce circulation of air in the display oompartment to offset the normal tendency to wide temperature variations between the upper and lower parts of the display compart ment, and said upper coil being exposed to the upward flow of air heated by contact with the sides of the display compartment, the clear space beneath the upper coil enhancing circulating movement of the air within the display compartment.

3. In a show case, the combination with a casing including a display compartment provided with a floor, of a heat exchange ele ment comprising upper and lower coils in series connection, the lower coil being an arrangement of piping positioned beneath the to offset the normal tendency to wide temperature variations between the upper and lower parts of the display compartment, and

said upper coil being exposed to the upward flow of air heated by contact with the sides of the display compartment, the clear space beneath the upper coil enhancing circulating movement of theiair within the display compartment.

4. In a show case, the combination of a casing having an upper display compartment and a lower counter compartment, a horizontal partition separating the two compartments, displaceable plates forming, a c osed floor for the display compartment spaced above the horizonta partition to rovide an intermediate chamber between t e two compartments, said plates havin openings through their opposite ends for the passage of condensate from the display compartment to the intermediatechamber, and a heat exchange element comprising upper and lower coils inseries connection mounted in the casing with the upper coil positioned in the display compartment ad'acent to the top thereof and the lower coil positioned in the intermediate chamber, said upper coil including a considerable length of piping to pro-- vi e an extensive heat exchange surface in the upper part of the display compartment,

said lower coilbeing positioned within the 7 intermediate chamber to maintain the condensate therein in liquid form, said lower 0011 having less heat exchange surface than the upper coil so that the chilling efiect in the intermediate chamber is less than that in the display compartment, said plates providing a screen for the lower coil to temper the chilling effect of the latter on the lower part of the display compartment to enhance the circulation of air'in the display compartment.

In testimorg whereof I afiix m signature.

1 SCAR MEYER OLFF. 

